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29 March 2024

1st ODI SL v SA: Sangakkara sizzles as Sri Lanka thrash South Africa by 180 runs

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara (R) runs between wickets as South Africa's Morne Morkel reacts next to him during their first One Day International match in Colombo. (REUTERS)

Published
By Cricket Correspondent with Agencies

Kumar Sangakarra celebrated his 350th one day international appearance with a career-best 169 on Saturday as Sri Lanka crushed South Africa by 180 runs at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

His innings was the third-highest by a Sri Lankan in 50-over cricket and came off 137 balls, with 18 fours and six sixes.

It carried the home side to 320 for five, a total South Africa never threatened as they were bowled out for 140 inside 32 overs.

The Proteas, missing leading batsman Hashim Amla, won the toss and chose to bowl, but only Morne Morkel (2-34 in 10 overs) found line and length.

Sangakarra started cautiously. He scored his first 66 runs off 91 balls, but the next 103 came off just 46 deliveries.

He shared a 123-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Lahiru Thirimanne, who scored 17 of those as Sangakarra dominated.

"It was a bit two-paced," said Sangakarra afterwards in a television interview. "It was about facing enough deliveries... I took 34 overs to get going, but I stuck in there. Morkel bowled good spells - it was about absorbing that and targetting the others."

South Africa lost Colin Ingram for a first-over duck and never looked as if they could threaten the home total, Alviro Petersen and Robyn Peterson top-scoring with 29 apiece.

Spinner Rangana Herath was the pick of the bowlers with three for 25, while Thisara Perara grabbed three for 31.

"It's not the end of the series, I know my boys will fight back," Proteas captain AB de Villiers said.

"Not a lot of positives, but we can only improve. It is mentally hard to accept, but we will fight back.

"We were way below par, but I know what the players are capable of..."

The result represents Sri Lanka's biggest margin of victory over South Africa, in terms of runs.

The second one day international will be on Tuesday at the same venue.

SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS

Phangiso is the last man out stumped by Sangakkara off Herath who claims his third wicket to be all out for 140 in 31.5 overs.

A Phangiso st Sangakkara b Herath 0 (13b 0x4 0x6)

Thirimanne takes an outstanding catch in the deep to dismiss Morkel. SA 138-9.

M Morkel c Thirimanne b Herath 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Peterson holes out to Tharanga in the deep as South Africa lose their eighth wicket. SA 138-8.

Robin Peterson c Tharanga b Perera 29 (37b 2x4 0x6)

Morris edges Dilshan to the fine leg fence. SA 131-7 in 27 overs.

Dilshan claims his second wicket as McLaren holes out to Perera. SA 119-7.

R McLaren c Perera b Dilshan 4 (15b 0x4 0x6)

Miller drags the ball onto his stumps. SA 105-6 in 21 overs.

A Miller b Dilshan 14 (22b 0x4 1x6)

Peterson opens his account with a boundary which hits the shoulder of the bat and goes over the keeper. SA 87-5 in 17 overs.

Perera claims his second wicket as Faf du Plessis chips to Chandimal at cover. SA 82-5.

F du Plessis c Chandimal b Perera 4 (12b 0x4 0x6)

Sri Lanka peg back South Africa with another wicket as Petersen edges Perera to be caught behind. SA 75-4.

Alviro Petersen c Sangakkara b Perera 29 (31b 4x4 0x6)

Herath strikes with his third delivery getting the big wicket AB de Villiers who backed away to leg and was beaten by the turn to find his stumps castled. SA 73-3.

AB de Villiers b Herath 23 (19b 5x4 0x6)

Herath comes into the attack as Sri Lanka try to stem the flow of runs.

AB de Villiers continues to deal in boundaries flicking Perera through midwicket. SA 72-2 in 11 overs.

Perera strays down the legside and Petersen clips him to fine for another boundary.

Boundaries keep flowing off the blade of AB de Villiers picking up a couple off Eranga as South Africa make 63-2 after 10 overs.

AB de Villiers punches Eranga through point for another boundary.

AB de Villiers smashes Perera through the covers for a boundary. SA 53-2 in 9 overs.

Eranga drops a tough return chance off AB de Villiers who whips the next ball to the square leg fence. SA 45-2 in 8 overs.

Petersen flicks Malinga to fine leg for another boundary.

AB de Villiers clips Eranga through midwicket to open his account with a boundary. SA 33-2 in 6 overs.

Duminy slams Eranga back past the bowler for a boundary but is out next ball edging behind where Sangakkara takes a low catch. SA 29-2.

JP Duminy c Sangakkara b Eranga 15 (22b 3x4 0x6)

Duminy and Petersen attack Malinga who goes for 15 as they hit three boundaries. SA 25-1 in 5 overs.

Eranga into the attack from the other end.

Sensational start to the South Africa innings as Ingram is bowled off the first ball from Malinga. SA 0-1.

Colin Ingram b Malinga 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Sri Lanka propelled by a record breaking century by Kumar Sangakkara (169) made a formidable 320-5 in their 50 overs after being put into bat by South Africa in the first one-day international at R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

Sangakkara smashed six sixes and 18 fours during his magnificent knock which came off just 137 balls.

His career-best ODI knock is the highest by a Sri Lankan against South Africa and the best at home surpassing Aravinda de Silva's century against Kenya during the 1996 World Cup.

Sangakkara stepped on the accelerator during the 123-run stand for the fourth wicket with Thirimanne who contributed just 17 runs.

Tharanga gave Sri Lanka the ideal start with a fluent knock of 43 with seven hits to the ropes.

Mahela (42) shared in a 74-run stand for the third wicket with Sangakkara who took charge thereafter.

Thisara Perera's seven-ball cameo of 16 with two boundaries and a six swelled their final tally.

Morkel had the best figures of two for 34.

SRI LANKA INNINGS

Kumar Sangakkara smashed his highest one-day score of 169 off 137 balls as Sri Lanka piled up 320/5 against South Africa at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Saturday.

The 35-year-old left-hander surpassed his previous best of 138 not out against India in 2005 after the hosts were sent in to bat in the first game of the five-match series against the Proteas.

Sangakkara's 16th century in his 350th one-dayer steered Sri Lanka to a commanding total after Tillakaratne Dilshan had fallen cheaply in the fourth over, bowled by Chris Morris.

Sangakkara put on 70 for the second wicket with opener Upul Tharanga (43), 74 for the third with Mahela Jayawardene (42) and 123 for the fourth in which Lahiru Thirimanne's contribution was just 17.

The veteran finally holed out in the deep in the penultimate over of the innings, ending a scintillating innings that contained 18 boundaries and six sixes.

Fast bowler Morne Morkel, who recovered in time from a thigh injury to play the match, was South Africa's most impressive bowler with 2-34 from his 10 overs.

But the inexperience of the depleted touring squad told in the end as the Sri Lankans batted fluently on the slow pitch.

South Africa were without three frontline players - fast bowler Dale Steyn, all-rounder Jacques Kallis and former captain Graeme Smith - for the tour which also includes three Twenty20 matches.

Premier batsman Hashim Amla was unavailable for the first match due to a strained neck.

Thisara Perera blasts two boundaries and a six off McLaren's final delivery as Sri Lanka record their highest score of 320 for five against South Africa at home.

Sangakkara smashes a six off Phangiso and miscues the next one to Duminy in the deep. SL 303-4.

Kumar Sangakkara c Duminy b Phangiso 169 (137b 18x4 6x6)

McLaren finally breaks the fourth wicket partnership of 123 in which Sangakkara's contribution was 100 as Thirimanne miscues a full to Peterson. SL 290-4.

Lahiru Thirimanne c Peterson b McLaren 17 (33b 0x4 0x6)

Sangakkara paddles Morris down the fine leg to past the 150-mark. SL 285-3 in 47 overs.

Sangakkara's 147 is the highest by a Sri Lanka at home surpassing Aravinda de Silva knock in the World Cup in 1996 against Kenya.

Sangakkara gets consecutive boundaries off edges to third man off Morris.

The 100 partnership between Sangakkara and Thirimanne for the fourth wicket comes off 103 balls.

Sangakkara survives after being bowled off a no-ball and then gets a boundary at fine leg following a misfield. SL 270-3 in 46 overs.

Sangakkara's 133 is now the highest ODI score by a Sri Lankan against South Africa.

Sangakkara is getting boundaries at will off Duminy dragging him from outside off stump to midwicket, sweeping over square leg for a six and then swatting him over extra cover off consecutive balls. SL 263-3 in 45 overs.

Sangakkara smashes consecutive boundaries off Morkel over extra cover and through midwicket. SL 243-3 in 44 overs.

Morkel completes his spell with figures of 10-2-34-2.

Sangakkara continues to flay the South African bowlers sweeping Duminy from outside off to square leg. SL 234-3 in 43 overs.

Sangakkara completes his 16th ODI century and second against South Africa pulling Duminy to the long on fence.

His century which came off 103 contained eight boundaries and four sixes with his last 35 runs coming off just 12 balls. SL 225-3 in 41 overs.

Sangakkara turns it on in the Batting Powerplay which yields 46 runs slamming McLaren for a boundary and massive six into the stands off consecutive balls. SL 217-3 in 40 overs.

Morris goes for 20 in the 39th overs as Sangakkara goes berserk slamming three boundaries and a six in consecutive balls. SL 203-3 in 39 overs.

Sangakkara swings a full toss on his pads from McLaren to the fence. SL 176-3 in 36 overs.

Batting Powerplay is on with Sri Lanka 171-3 in 35 overs.

Morkels bowls a wicket maiden removing Mahela while Thirimanne plays down a couple of dot balls. SL 167-3 in 34 overs.

Morkel strikes again as Mahela pulls a short pitched delivery straight down the throat of Ingram at square leg. SL 167-3.

Mahela Jayawardene c Ingram b Morkel 42 (51b 4x4 0x6)

Mahela lofts Peterson over extra cover for another boundary. SL 167-2 in 33 overs.

South Africa are unsuccessful with a decision review after Mahela is adjudged not out attempting to sweep Peterson. SL 148-2 in 29 overs.

Sangakkara completes his 78th ODI fifty with a single.

Sangakkara attacks Phangiso to slam his second six over midwicket to bring up the 50 partnership in 47 balls. SL 144-2 in 28 overs.

Mahela cracks two consecutive boundaries off Morris chipping to mid on and then pulling him to midwicket. SL 133-2 in 27 overs.

Mahela gets going cutting Phangiso to third man for his first boundary. SL 116-2 in 24 overs.

Sangakkara punches Morris straight down the ground for a boundary. SL 108-2 in 23 overs.

Morkel breaks the second wicket stand as Tharanga drags the ball onto his stumps attempting to glide to third man. SL 93-2.

Upul Tharanga b Morkel 43 (64b 7x4 0x6)

The second wicket partnership between Tharanga and Sangakkara was worth 70 runs.

Tharanga is batting fluently whipping Duminy through point for another boundary. SL 81-1 in 16 overs.

Sangakkara turns Phangiso off his pads for a boundary to bring up the 50 partnership off 64 balls. SL 76-1 in 15 overs.

Phangiso into the attack in the 15th over.

Tharanga cuts Duminy for another boundary. SL 71-1 in 14 overs.

Tharanga edges McLaren past the keeper for a boundary.

Duminy playing his 100th ODI comes into the attack in the 12th over replacing Peterson.

Sangakkara dances down the track and slams a straight six off Peterson. SL 50-1 in 10 overs.

Tharanga slams Peterson through mid off for a boundary. SL 38-1 in 8 overs.

Spin introduced early in the innings at Robin Peterson comes into the attack in the eighth over. SL 34-1 in 7 overs.

Tharanga cuts Morris over extra cover for another boundary. SL 32-1 in 6 overs.

Tharanga hits his second boundary driving Morkel through extra cover and mid off. SL 27-1 in 5 overs.

Morris draws first blood beating Dilshan through the gate as he attempts to steer him to midwicket. SL 23-1.

TM Dilshan b Morris 10 (8b 1x4 0x6)

Morkel bowls a maiden over. SL 19-0 in 3 overs.

Dilshan completes the expensive over by cracking Morris through the covers for his first boundary. SL 19-0 in 2 overs.

Morris also bowls a long over sending down five wides.

Alviro floors a regulation catch at second slip off Tharanga who hits the first boundary of the match tickling Morkel to fine leg in an eventful first oveer. SL 7-0 in 1 over.

The first runs for Sri Lanka come off three consecutive wides bowled to left-hander Tharanga by Morkel.

Dilshan and Tharanga open for Sri Lanka while Morne Morkel has the new ball in hand to bowl from the Khettarama end.

The tourists have been hit by the absence of prolific opener Hashim Amla with a stiff neck while Lonwabo Tsotsobe is also not playing.

Morne Morkel is playing.

Sri Lanka have been strengthened by the return of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Thisara Perera while Jehan Mubarak earns a recall after four years.

PLAYING XI

Sri Lanka - Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jehan Mubarak, Thisara Perera, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga, Lasith Malinga

South Africa - Colin Ingram, Alviro Petersen, JP Duminy, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Robin Peterson, Aaron Phangiso, Chris Morris, Morne Morkel

South Africa have won the toss and put Sri Lanka into bat in the first day-night one-day international at R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

South Africa will play an ODI for the first time in Sri Lanka in nine years.

The only survivor from that South African side is JP Duminy.

PREVIEW

Sri Lanka and South Africa are hoping to recover from recent setbacks in one-day cricket when they contest a five-match series starting in Colombo on Saturday.

Both teams were knocked out in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy in the United Kingdom despite being rated as two of the strongest contenders in the eight-nation tournament.

The Proteas lived up to their reputation as cricket's "chokers", a tag outgoing coach Gary Kirsten said was fully justified following the semifinal defeat against England at the Oval in London.

Sri Lanka, World Cup runners-up to India in 2011, fell to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men twice in two weeks when the Champions Trophy defeat was followed by a loss in the tri-series final in the West Indies.

Dinesh Chandimal, 23, will lead the Islanders in the first two matches against South Africa after regular captain Angelo Mathews was handed a two-match ban for his team's slow over-rates in the tri-series.

Sri Lanka will miss frontline seamer Nuwan Kulasekara, who sustained a finger injury in the West Indies, for the first two games. Batsman Jehan Mubarak was recalled after four years.

The tourists will be without the injured duo of Dale Steyn and Graeme Smith, while veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis prolonged a self-imposed break after sitting out the Champions Trophy.

In further trouble for South Africa, fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe were doubtful for Saturday's match after picking up minor niggles at the start of the tour.

The series, which will be followed by three Twenty20 internationals, is the first assignment for South Africa's new coach Russell Domingo, who served as Kirsten's deputy till the Champions Trophy.

"Russell communicates very well and he will make sure everyone understands their role really well," said South African captain AB de Villiers, who is also the team's wicket-keeper and star middle-order batsman.

"The important thing is to try and be consistent every time we take the field. We have to do the basics well. It's about us finding a rhythm as a team."

South Africa warmed up for the series with a 73-run win over a local side in Colombo on Wednesday as JP Duminy hit form with 92 and Chris Morris and Robin Peterson claimed three wickets each.

Teams (from):

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Perera, Jehan Mubarak, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Shaminda Eranga, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal.

South Africa: AB de Villiers (Captain), Hashim Amla, Alviro Petersen, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Robin Peterson, Aaron Phangiso, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.